Catastrophe Deepens as Indonesia Educational Institution Structural Failure Death Toll Increases to 54
News Agency
The death count from the collapse of an Indonesian school has climbed to 54, as confirmed by officials, with emergency responders continuing their search for over twelve unaccounted persons.
Numerous pupils, primarily teenage boys, had gathered for religious services at the Islamic boarding school in Eastern Java when the building collapsed while being renovated.
Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency characterizes this as the country's most fatal catastrophe this year. Rescue personnel are expected to complete their search operation for thirteen individuals trapped beneath the rubble by day's end.
Probe Ongoing into Structural Failure
Investigators are continuing to probe the reason behind the structural failure. Some officials suggested the two-level structure collapsed due to an inadequate base.
"Out of all the catastrophes in 2025, natural or not, there has not occurred as numerous fatalities as the incident in Sidoarjo," stated a representative from the disaster mitigation agency during a press conference.
The overall number encompasses at least two people who were rescued from the rubble but later died in medical care.
School Background and Oversight Issues
The institution is a traditional religious educational center in Indonesia, commonly known as a pesantren.
Numerous pesantren operate without formal oversight, without comprehensive oversight or regular inspections. It remains uncertain whether the institution had proper authorization to undertake additional construction.
Rescue Challenges
Emergency response efforts have faced difficulties due to the manner the structure fell, creating narrow voids for rescuers to maneuver within, authorities reported last week.
Eyewitness Reports
Survivors have recounted their harrowing escape experiences with regional news outlets.
One 13-year-old eyewitness recalled first "noticing the noise of falling rocks", which "intensified and louder".
The adolescent immediately ran for the doorway, and while he successfully got out, he was wounded by collapsing materials from the ceiling.
